Base-ball cover



2 Sheets-Sheet 1,

(No Model.)

B. P. SHIBE. BASE BALL COVER.

No. 442,147. Patented Dec. 9, 1890.

Hits STATES PATENT QFFICE.

BENJAMIN I SIIIBE, OF BALA, ASSIG-YOR TO THE AMERICAN PATENTS COMPANY,OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BASE-BALL COVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 442,147, dated December9, 1890.

Application filed February 6, 1890. Serial No. 339,408. (No model.)

To all whom zit may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN I SHIRE, a citizen of the United States,residing at liala, Lower Merion township, Montgomery county,Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inManufacture of Basel-ialls, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the manufacture of base-balls; and it consistsin the improvcments in base-ball coverings fully set forth hereinafter,whereby such coverings may be effectively applied without the necessityof employing the skilled labor heretofore required. The method ofapplying such coverings set forth in my pending application, Serial No.332,811, filed December (3, 1889.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a plan illustrating abase-ball. covering-section marked or perforated in accordance with myimprovement. Fig. 2 is a view illustrating the ball complete. Fig. is anedge view of the marking device. Fig. l is a plan of the marking device.Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation of the marking device combined with adie.

In the manufacture of base-balls the cov erings have heretofore beenmade of two sections of the form shown in Fig. 1, placed upon the bodyportion and stitched along the edges, as shown in Fig. 2. Prior tosewing the edges together the sections-of the cover are held upon thebody of the ball by means of basting-stitches or other means offastening, and the operator determines the position of the stitches a byher eye, after first making punctu res or holes for the thread by meansof an awl, while the sections are upon the body. These operationsrequire the services of ore pert sewers, greatly advancing the cost ofthe ball, inasmuch as the attempt of anyone not skilled in the work toperform this operation would result in drawing or wrinkling portions ofthe cover, impairing the quality of the ball and. rendering it unsalableor depreciating its value.

In order to overcome the above-set-forth objections, I make each sectionAct the usual form and provide it with a series of punctures or marks 0at proper distances apart adjacent to the edge to indicate the pointswhere the stitches are to be placed. The sections thus marked orperforated are placed upon the body and secured thereon, as usual, bybasting-stitches or other means of fastening, and the operator thenpunctures the open ings, if the spaces are only marked or indicated; or,if they have been already perforated, the operator sews directly throughthe perforations.

Inasmuch as the operator does not have to depend upon her or his eye orown judgment for the position of the stitches, each stitch is made inthe proper position, and every stitching-point upon the edge of onesection is so connected with the corresponding stitching-point upon theedge of the opposite section that there is no side draft upon eithersection, but the edges are drawn together by stitches substantially atright angles, so that there is no wrinkling or puckering, and the coverof the ball lies perfectly fiat along the edges throughout the entireextent of the seam.

One of the main advantages of the covering above described is that byits use the manufacture of base-balls can be carried on with theservices of inexperienced operators, it being only essential that theyshall be able to properly place the stitches at the points indicated bythe marks or perforations in the sections, so that the balls are notonly made much more cheaply'than those manufactured in the ordinarymanner, but they are also superior in quality to those made by the bestexperts.

It will be evident that the section A, cut out to the proper shape andmarked or punctured as above described, will constitute articles of saleto be afterward used by the purchaser in making up the balls.

' Different means may be en'iployed for making or puncturing thesections. Thus in Fig. 3 I have shown a plate B provided with a seriesof points or pins 1), arranged adjacent to the edge of the plate, asbest shown in Fig.4. These pins may be pointed, as shown, or they may beblunt. In the latter case their ends are coated or inked, so that whenthe device is applied to the section it will mark the position of thestitches thereon. \Vhen the section is to be perforated, the pins areprcferably pointed and pressure is so applied as to force themthroughthe material, forming the desired perforations or punctures.

If desired, the perforating or marking device may be combined with thedie which cuts out the sections. A construction suitable for thispurpose is illustrated in Fig. 5, in which 1) represents the die havingthe outline of the section and secured to a suitable head E, withinwhich the puncturing device B is so cured with the points of the pinsbut shortly above the plain of the edge of the die D, so that when thedie is forced downward upon the leather the section will be cutfrom thelatter simultaneously with the perforating or marking of the same alongthe edges. In order to clear the section from the die after the pressurehas been applied, a clearing-blade F is used, the same being in such ashape as to fitwithin the cutting portion of the die and withperforations for the passage of the pins Z1, and this plate is madeyielding by connectin g it with two guide-rods f, which are pressedoutward by the force of the spring (1, so that when the device is raisedthe clearing-blade will be forced downward and force the section whichhas been just perforated out of the die and off from the pins. 1 do notlimit myself, however, to the use of any specific devices in themanufacture of my improved ball-covering, as it will be evident thatVarious devices may be employed for marking or puncturing the sectionsto secure the desired result.

As before stated, the marks or perforations are made a proper distanceapart, by which is meant that they are so placed as to indicate the samearrangeinentof the stitches at different parts of the ball that would bemade by an expert operator in sewing in the ordinary manner. Thus itwill be seen in Fig. 1 that themarks are closer together at the endsthan at the centers of the sides, and vary in distance at theintermediate portions, so that the unskilled operator is properly guidedin placing the stitches at the distances which experience has proved tobe most desirable. The points or pins of the die are of coursecorrespondingly arranged.

I claim as my invention- The blank for baseball covers herein specified,consisting of sections each provided with a series of marks orperforations along the edges, concentrated at the ends of the blank, andgradually spaced more and more widely up to the center, whereby thestitches draw normally across the abutting edges, thus preventing theside draft and wrinkles, as in expert sewing, substantially as shown anddescribed.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. SHIRE.

\Vitnesses:

HARRY O. Koonnasrnnena, C. PERCY WILLCOX,

